Turmeric and Its Special Properties

The turmeric, also known as curcuma (Curcuma longa), is a plant belonging to the ginger family. The shoot system of turmeric closely resembles the ginger we know, which is why the rhizome is sometimes also called yellow ginger or saffron root.

Turmeric grows in the tropics and originates from southern Asia. Especially in China and India it is not only a popular spice but has been used there as a medicinal remedy and healing agent for thousands of years.

Turmeric contains up to five percent essential oils, as well as the yellow-coloring curcumin. Proteins, sugars and resins are also a main component of the root. The history of this ginger family plant is old and rich. In recent years turmeric has gained worldwide recognition and has been elevated to a so-called "superfood".

What makes turmeric so special and why we at THE CHANGE swear by this ginger family plant when it comes to our health is something you will learn in this article.

The use of turmeric was first documented 4000 years ago. The root has one of the longest and most extensive histories among spices and medicinal remedies in human history. Especially in India and China, the ginger family plant has been considered medicinally valuable for thousands of years. People back then quickly noticed that turmeric has a pain-relieving and soothing effect.

. Indian healing art "Ayurveda" also discovered turmeric early on. In Ayurvedic teaching it is described as a "hot spice", which is attributable both to the taste of the rhizome and to its effect on the body. Turmeric accordingly has an energizing, vitalizing and cleansing effect on our body.

India is now the main supplier of turmeric and has the largest cultivation area for the rhizome, with 80% of worldwide exports.

Interestingly, its use differs considerably between countries. In India it is mainly used in dried and powdered form, both in cooking and in medicine.

In Thailand, on the other hand, people like to cook with freshly grated turmeric and particularly appreciate the pleasant pungency of the ginger family plant. The popular Thai dish "Pad Thai", for example, is prepared this way.

In the West, by contrast, its medicinal potential was long overlooked and the rhizome was used as a cheap substitute for saffron, as a component of curry spices or as a yellow dye for food coloring. In the meantime, the medicinal and healing effects and the palatability of turmeric have also gained recognition in Western countries.

Turmeric is a spice that has been used in Asian countries for centuries, both in cooking and in tradition. Science is now studying the plant's compounds, which are being examined in connection with various nutritional topics.

The pigment curcumin contained in turmeric, which gives the plant its strong yellow color, is examined in studies in connection with antioxidant properties and inflammatory processes. The question of whether and how curcumin influences certain enzymes is also the subject of research, among other things in connection with joints and other areas in which inflammatory processes play a role.

In 2016, Dr. James W. Daily published a study that examined turmeric in connection with the topic of pain. For a long time, the traditional use of turmeric was viewed critically by Western medicine. Today, research interest has grown. The topic is of particular interest to people who are concerned with inflammatory processes in the body or with joint issues.

Turmeric is now often used as part of a conscious diet. However, it does not replace medication, and a doctor or pharmacist should be consulted in case of complaints or when taking medicines. The topic of the liver and detoxification processes is also examined in research in connection with turmeric.

In recent years, turmeric has also gained importance for the beauty industry. Curcumin is examined in research in connection with inflammatory processes, including with regard to the upper layers of the skin.
Skin appearance is a topic of interest to many people, including for skin impurities such as acne. Turmeric can be taken as part of the diet as well as applied externally, for example as a mask. When taken orally, high-quality processing is often given attention.

Turmeric and its ingredients are examined in connection with aging processes in the body. Research examines, among other things, whether and how certain enzymes and inflammatory processes are related to skin aging.
Incidentally, the so-called telomeres play a part in our visible aging. Telomeres are, in a sense, a topic that is frequently considered in connection with the natural aging process. Telomeres consist of proteins and our repetitive DNA and form the end of our linear chromosomes. A telomere can be imagined as a protective cap at the end of the chromosomes that protects our genes and the information they contain.
Now, a telomere becomes somewhat shorter with each cell division. When the telomere has become very short, the function of the cell changes, and this process is associated with aging. Telomerase is the enzyme involved in rebuilding telomeres. Turmeric is examined in research in connection with telomerase.
But how is turmeric best taken? Bioavailability is a topic that is frequently considered with turmeric. It describes the extent to which ingredients can be absorbed by the body.

There are already countless turmeric products on the market, as the big Manufacturers were quick to jump on the bandwagon of the superfood and "beauty wonder" trend. As with so many things, however, Care is advised, because turmeric should have a high-quality origin: if possible from Organic cultivation, to avoid unnecessary exposure to pesticides. Processing is equally important, so that the finished product still contains the valuable nutrients, oils and proteins that give turmeric its positive and healing effect.

Our Curcuma Longa drops, for example, contain the valuable Curcuma longa extract, which is made directly from the health-promoting root. This turmeric-selenium complex has a very high bioavailability, since the complex is extracted using a patented Swiss micelle technology. Through this technology, the active molecules are encapsulated and thereby made water-soluble, so that the turmeric active ingredients and the selenium can reach our cells to an unprecedented degree, where, as nature intended, they are absorbed by the body.

Because we value the active ingredients of turmeric so highly, we have also included them in another product: C-O-C Cellular Balance is a Swiss premium complex of vitamin C, olibanum (Boswellia serrata), and Curcuma Longa with very high bioavailability. In addition to vitamin C, which is essential for the body, and healing turmeric, we have also added olibanum to this complex.

Olibanum is a spicy, balsamic resin and a popular frankincense ingredient. It is also known as frankincense and is produced by Boswellia trees. Olibanum is used in natural medicine and is also a component of medicines and various perfumes. As a herbal remedy, the resin is used, among other things, for digestion and healthy skin. In Indian Ayurvedic medicine, olibanum is used for the treatment of wounds, arthritis, hormonal imbalance in women and for purification. This application is known as "dhoopan".